A troubling incident unfolded at the United Nations as a U.S. official faced a physical assault during the high-profile UN General Assembly. The attack, described by White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly as the act of a “deranged leftist,” occurred while the official served as support for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., highlighting security concerns at the international venue.
Kelly reported that an official from the Department of Health and Human Services was assaulted in a bathroom after being followed and recorded. “An HHS official was followed into a bathroom, recorded, physically assaulted, and verbally accosted by a deranged leftist at the UN—who somehow entered the venue past multiple layers of security,” she stated. While the official escaped unharmed and the assailant was arrested, the incident reveals significant security lapses at the UN.
Kelly expressed outrage about the situation, emphasizing the need for accountability. “The UN must answer why these highly concerning incidents continue to happen against the president and his staff,” she noted. Furthermore, she mentioned that the U.S. Secret Service would begin an investigation into how this can happen at a national security event. According to a U.S. UN spokesperson, the event raises doubts about the UN’s role as the world’s diplomatic center. “If you can’t keep people safe in your own building, how can you claim to be the world’s diplomatic center?” the spokesperson asked.
The affected official recounted her experience of being followed and verbally and physically harassed. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, she described how a woman approached her aggressively, berating her and shining a bright light in her face. “It was very disorienting,” she recalled. Despite her attempts to escape, the harassment escalated as she sought refuge in a bathroom stall.
Once in the stall, the aggressor persisted, pushing against the door and continuing to record the official’s response. The official reported that the exchange lasted around ten minutes, during which time she felt that the attack was a political act. “It felt very political in nature,” she said. “Secretary Kennedy gets a tremendous number of bows and arrows and threats that he deals with, but it seems that it’s not enough.” Yet, despite the frightening nature of the incident, she expressed a sense of empowerment and support from her leadership.
This event raises questions about security failures at the UN, especially implicating broader concerns about safety for U.S. diplomats in increasingly hostile environments. The U.S. UN spokesperson asserted that the UN must undergo substantial reform, stating, “Enough is enough.” Such incidents could jeopardize the integrity of the United Nations and its ability to function as a safe space for diplomacy.
The aggressor was reportedly arrested by the New York Police Department, but details about her custody remain unclear. The incident, coupled with the spokesperson’s remarks about the UN “losing its way,” signals a need for an urgent reassessment of security measures within the organization.
As the investigation unfolds, the focus will likely remain on both securing better protections for U.S. representatives abroad and reevaluating the procedures that allowed this scenario to play out in such a high-security setting. The ongoing security discussion at the UN is now more critical than ever, as this incident reflects a growing trend of hostile actions against those on diplomatic missions.
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